Examination: Elbow

There are 6 main concepts that need to be remembered for ALL of the regional examination of the musculoskeletal system:

  1. Position – always position your patient as you would like to examine them before you begin
  2. Look – inspect and observe the patient and around the patient's bedside
  3. Feel – for example, feeling a joint to see if it is hot or swollen
  4. Move – actively (the patient moves the joint) then passively (you do the movements for them)
  5. Function – can the patient move their joints in order to complete day to day tasks?
  6. Special tests – if applicable

  • Wash hands
  • Introduce yourself
  • Ask permission to examine the relevant part of the body
  • Expose the patient – ideally in underwear only, at least exposing the joint of interest and the joints above and below this
  • Reposition the patient – standing up at first

Position:
  • Position standing up

Look:
  • At front, back and sides of elbow
  • For signs such as;
    • Carrying angle
    • Nodules
    • Olecranon swelling (may suggest bursitis)
    • Psoriatic skin changes

Feel:
  • Temperature
  • For nodules
  • With the elbow at 90 degrees:
    • Feel the olecranon for pain and deformity
    • The medial and lateral epicondyles for pain and deformity

Move:
  • Actively and passively:
    • Extension
    • Flexion
    • Pronation
    • Supination

Function:
  • Put your hand to your mouth

To conclude the examination:
  • Thank the patient
  • Tell them they can get dressed now
  • Offer to examine the joint above and the joint below
  • Consider neurological examination of the limb examined


The complete examination of the musculoskeletal system includes:


written by: celine_lakra, first posted on: 09/01/12,21:45

Downloads / Links

download pdf here
size: 190.1kb

Comments:

No one has left a comment yet. Be the first - see below.

Make a Comment:

Please login before posting a comment. If you don't yet have an account on osce-aid.co.uk, you can register for FREE by clicking here.